Lizzie Edwards – Dress Like The Leader You Are

Personal stylist, Lizzie Edwards, helps you navigate the intricacies of power dressing and enables you to find your own signature style. Dedicated to creating stylish solutions that you can incorporate into your own wardrobe, ‘Look Like The Leader You Are’ is a fabulous demonstration of practical style advice and shopping tips for ambitions women.

By Lizzie Edwards

You will no doubt have heard the phrase ‘dress for the job you want, not the job you have’. If you are ambitious but have not really given what you wear more than a passing thought, now is the time to take upgrading your look more seriously to support your career.

The Fold’s recent report, Workwear Matters, looked into how your professional image can impact your career. Fair or not, and it’s true for everyone, you are judged on your appearance, and if you get it wrong, it can limit opportunities and damage your career prospects.

Equally important is the influence what you wear has on how you feel. Research has shown that lack of confidence holds many women back from achieving their full potential in the workplace. We know that dressing well creates a positive feedback loop and provides an extra boost. When you look and feel good it affects your confidence, and therefore what you put on could be the final piece of the puzzle – the cherry on top of all your skills and experience – which makes the difference.

However, before you hit the shops, deciding what to wear at work starts long before you go shopping. There are a few important points to consider before you begin.

Personal stylist, Lizzie Edwards, helps you navigate the intricacies of power dressing and enables you to find your own signature style. Dedicated to creating stylish solutions that you can incorporate into your own wardrobe, ‘Look Like The Leader You Are’ is a fabulous demonstration of practical style advice and shopping tips for ambitions women.

You will no doubt have heard the phrase ‘dress for the job you want, not the job you have’. If you are ambitious but have not really given what you wear more than a passing thought, now is the time to take upgrading your look more seriously to support your career.

The Fold’s recent report, Workwear Matters, looked into how your professional image can impact your career. Fair or not, and it’s true for everyone, you are judged on your appearance, and if you get it wrong, it can limit opportunities and damage your career prospects.

Equally important is the influence what you wear has on how you feel. Research has shown that lack of confidence holds many women back from achieving their full potential in the workplace. We know that dressing well creates a positive feedback loop and provides an extra boost. When you look and feel good it affects your confidence, and therefore what you put on could be the final piece of the puzzle – the cherry on top of all your skills and experience – which makes the difference.

However, before you hit the shops, deciding what to wear at work starts long before you go shopping. There are a few important points to consider before you begin.

Gain Clarity

Before you go anywhere near a shop, it’s important to take time to consider a number of things, professional and personal.

Be clear on the end goal. What is the role you aspire to? What are the qualities you have that are essential for the role? What message do you want to give others about who you are?

It’s also important to know yourself, physically and psychologically. What do you really look like? What shapes, colours, and styles suit you? What is your personal taste, aesthetically? Whose style do you admire? What brands do you like?

Gaining clarity at the beginning will save you a lot of time when it comes to shopping.

Find Your Signature Style

When you have a ‘go-to’ look that you can rely on – a wardrobe that is considered – it frees up valuable time when shopping, getting dressed in the morning or packing for business trips. Becoming clear on your signature style and having a uniform of sorts means your wardrobe works as a whole and you always look put-together – leaving you more time to focus on important things.

Gain Clarity

Before you go anywhere near a shop, it’s important to take time to consider a number of things, professional and personal.
Be clear on the end goal. What is the role you aspire to? What are the qualities you have that are essential for the role? What message do you want to give others about who you are?

It’s also important to know yourself, physically and psychologically. What do you really look like? What shapes, colours, and styles suit you? What is your personal taste, aesthetically? Whose style do you admire? What brands do you like?

Gaining clarity at the beginning will save you a lot of time when it comes to shopping.

Find Your Signature Style

When you have a ‘go-to’ look that you can rely on – a wardrobe that is considered – it frees up valuable time when shopping, getting dressed in the morning or packing for business trips. Becoming clear on your signature style and having a uniform of sorts means your wardrobe works as a whole and you always look put-together – leaving you more time to focus on important things.

Be Prepared To Invest

There is no getting away from it – looking good and dressing well does not happen by accident. It requires investment of both time and money.

Consider what a well-planned wardrobe could do for your earning potential. By wearing clothes that make you stand taller, feel more confident and help you show up authentically to work each day or at an interview, you could land your dream job or receive a promotion.

Make time to curate your work wardrobe. Take a day or two of annual leave to review what you have, have a clear-out, make a list of what you need, do some research and shop strategically.

Think through your budget. It’s worthwhile investing in good-quality, well-made clothes that will see you through a number of seasons and still look good after numerous wears.

How you show up matters – if you are ambitious, you’ll want to ensure that how you present yourself reflects your career aspirations. Consider your work wardrobe as an important tool in reaching your full potential.

Lizzie Edwards is an author, speaker and renowned personal stylist for professional women. The founder of Lizzie Edwards Style Consultancy, she and her team of associate stylists work with ambitious women, creating effortless, authentic work wardrobes.

Lizzie is also the author of the bestselling book “Look Like The Leader You Are; A 7 Step Strategy for Ambitious Women” available at all booksellers and on Amazon: http://bit.ly/foldlizzie

International Women’s Day 2019: Click here to read ‘Ambition’ by Christine Armstrong.

Be Prepared To Invest

There is no getting away from it – looking good and dressing well does not happen by accident. It requires investment of both time and money.

Consider what a well-planned wardrobe could do for your earning potential. By wearing clothes that make you stand taller, feel more confident and help you show up authentically to work each day or at an interview, you could land your dream job or receive a promotion.

Make time to curate your work wardrobe. Take a day or two of annual leave to review what you have, have a clear-out, make a list of what you need, do some research and shop strategically.

Think through your budget. It’s worthwhile investing in good-quality, well-made clothes that will see you through a number of seasons and still look good numerous wears.

How you show up matters – if you are ambitious, you’ll want to ensure that how you present yourself reflects your career aspirations. Consider your work wardrobe as an important tool in reaching your full potential.

Lizzie Edwards is an author, speaker and renowned personal stylist for professional women. The founder of Lizzie Edwards Style Consultancy, she and her team of associate stylists work with ambitious women, creating effortless, authentic work wardrobes.

Lizzie is also the author of the bestselling book “Look Like The Leader You Are; A 7 Step Strategy for Ambitious Women” available at all booksellers and on Amazon: http://bit.ly/foldlizzie